The Regia Marina was born on march 17th, 1861 with the merging of the Royal Sardinian Navy, the Neapolitan Army of the Sea and the Navy of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. The Pontifical Navy would be added in 1971. At the date of its creation, the Regia Marina adopted the flag for all warships and merchant ships as originally set for the Royal Sardinian Navy in 1948.